Stephen Robinson met with the media on Friday morning ahead of Saturday's trip to Dundee. RedTV subscribers can watch his press conference now.

Saturday in Dundee

“Looking forward to it. We started well, we got the three points on the board that we wanted to give us a good start, and we're looking forward to the game.

“I thought Dundee were very good against Celtic. Really well organised, really well coached, which is no surprise with Steven there, a very good manager.

“It'll be a tough game, and we'll take a big crowd down there as well, which is fantastic, and again something to build on away from home, which our record wasn't good enough last year.”

A work in progress

“Momentum is everything in football. Winning football matches gives you belief.

“We've got a lot of new players. You have to remember that. A lot of new players. I think it's 12 we've signed, eight or nine started on Saturday.

“It's a work in progress. It’s not going to be the finished article after one league game. So, we know that. We're aware of lots of things that can be improved in the final third.

“I thought our first-half performance was good. I thought our second-half performance wasn't good enough and we managed, in the last 15 minutes with the changes, to get a result.

“I'm a realist. We understand that. We understand it's going to take a little bit of time. But if we can keep picking up results and continue that momentum, then it bodes well going forward.”

A big away support

“It'll feel like a home game with the amount of fans we're taking down, you know, which is, again, credit to them.

“We have to put on a performance and make sure we're up for the battle and scrap as well because anytime you go to Dundee that's what you have to do.

“And we have to try and dictate the game the way we want to on the ground as well. I think it'll be a hard game. Dundee have got some very good footballers as well and we have to be right at the very top of our game again.

“So not just one half, we need to put both halves together again and it gives us a chance to get off on a good foot away from home as well.”

Team news

“A couple of knocks and bruises.

“A couple of people will be tested today. Brad Lyons and Connor Ronan will be tested today, so we'll know a bit more after training on them.

“Ante Palaversa’s injured. I think everybody else is okay.

"Mats Knoester has started training, he trained fully today. But he won't be involved tomorrow because it's obviously too soon after one day's training session.

“But it'll be good to have him back available in a couple of weeks' time after we get some practice games under his belt.

“Yeah, he's back fully, as long as he has no reaction to today. It's now just game time. He’s been out a little while.

“It was the last game of the season that he hurt his knee, so it's been a while. We can't expect people to come back instantly and be right on top of their

game. So, we have to be wary of that. But certainly, fitness-wise, he looks good to go.”

Transfer latest

“Nothing to update on. Some outs. Lutz deals with that and he does it very, very well. So, nothing at this moment in time that's concrete. Lots of interest. We know we need to get the squad down to a manageable level.

“Lutz is dealing with that and dealing with that very well at the moment. And ins, we're always wanting ins, but nothing imminent at the moment.

“Dimitar Mitov is a very good goalkeeper so no surprise that there's interest in him. We haven't had anything concrete yet. At this moment in time, he remains an Aberdeen player.”

A big change from last time at Dens

“The personnel's changed completely. We had eight or nine new starters on Saturday.

“We’ve been able to put our stamp on things in pre-season. It’s very difficult to come in in the middle of the season and change everything. That’s almost impossible.

“You just have to try and get enough together to get over the line, which we done. We were disappointed in that performance, and we aim that we don't replicate that again on Saturday, certainly.

“We've got the players that can go and win the game, can really compete now as well. We’re confident going into the game, but we have to be at the very top level.”

Options at the back

“I think Dan Happe and Lewis Mayo have been terrific for us in the early stages of the cup and then Saturday as well.

“I thought the whole back four were very good. It’s always good to have good options and Mats is certainly one we want involved.

“He's a leader. He’s done very well for the football club before he got injured. We want him back. We want that competition. We want to keep those players playing well, and the way you do that is competition, which we didn't have last year.”

Getting to know the club

“I think after Saturday they (new signings) get the size of the football club.

“Those that didn't realise it, you can tell people how big we are, I think they know that after Saturday. And it was a great way to end it. They want more of that. They've embraced that. It shouldn't be a hindrance.

“It should be an absolute motivation that people have paid that money and the amount of fans that travel down the road should be something that inspires the team and inspires the staff, and certainly we'll try and make that happen.”

Belief in the squad

“I think there's an inner belief now in the squad that we are fit enough, we are strong. if we are organised and we have got quality in the squad that can do those things, and you don't lose belief. You don't give up.

“The performance for probably 30 minutes in the second half we weren't happy with. We know we can be better, but we didn't lie down. We didn't lose belief, and that's something my teams always do. They go until the end.

“Sometimes you don't choose to play poorly, but you choose what your attitude is. And certainly everybody in this building now that'll be involved will have an attitude to run and make sure until the 96th, 97th minute that we're still in the game. And if you can do that, more often than not you'll pick up points.

“The cup games, some of the play was excellent. The first half (Hearts game), we had some really good opportunities, and the final decision, final pass, probably was our downfall.

“Hearts are a good side. We have to remember that as well. You know, they had a period in the game. We defended it well. We defended it when we needed to. And it's just about understanding, a little bit of cohesion, which comes with time, and that's not something that's afforded to many managers. I'm well aware of that as well.

“But as the weeks go by and the understanding of what we want, and the players understand each other, then that will improve, no doubt."

Dundee

“I thought they were excellent. I thought they were really well organised, as Steven's teams are. That doesn't come as a surprise to me. Thought they were on the front foot, really aggressive.

“I was really impressed with them. Really impressed with his new signings. He gets fantastic loan signings with his connections down south. We know it's a tough, tough game.

“Dundee, credit to the board, invested a lot of money into the squad, which makes them competitive.

Bounce game against Inverness CT

“There were a lot of younger players that played in that, but we managed to get 90 minutes into a lot of first-team players as well.

“Certainly it puts them into the frame for match fitness because you can't keep everybody fit without 90 minutes. So we used that.

“I believe if players don't play every three weeks, then they start to lose fitness, so it's something I do. And they're always an option, but certainly coming in fitter and being able to last 90 minutes is a massive benefit to us.

“They’ve certainly given me things to consider. That's why we've got a squad. We've got a good squad of players. We've got a couple we're sweating on at the moment in a certain area of the pitch, and if they don't make it, we're confident in the boys that go in.

“So those bounce games are very important, they come ready to play because we can't have big expectations of them if they haven't played for six weeks. So, some might get a chance.”